6717. That is to say, supposing a man who loses his boat has a sum to receive in cash from the society, which passes through your hands, it may be written down to square off your account?-No. It may be entered to his credit in the account; but I think, if the matter was searched into, it would be found that in that case it was to square off for some boat he had got before, and which he had not paid for.
6718. And not his ordinary shop account?-No.
6719. Therefore, you say that you would retain the money if he was in debt to you for a boat?-Yes.
6720. But you would not retain it if he was only in debt to you for shop goods?-I think not.
6721. What is your reason for making that distinction?-I think it is nothing but simple justice to myself. It would certainly be very unreasonable for a man to get remuneration for a boat from the Shipwrecked Fishermen's Society while the same boat was standing unpaid for in my books.
6722. Would the same principle not apply to the case of an account which a man owed to you?-No doubt the man would be entitled to pay me that account; but I would certainly consider it a great hardship if I had to pay that money over to a man who had an account standing due in my books for the very boat for the loss of which the money was given.
6723. Have you ever had any dispute with the fishermen about the payment of that money, or any complaints that it was not settled for in cash?-I don't think I have, within my recollection. I think there was one man who said something about it at one time; but after I had showed to him what I considered to be the justice of the matter, I fancied he was satisfied, and never heard any more about it.
6724. What is the other book you have brought with you?-It is a boat-book, merely for entries relating to the boats.
6725. How are the boat-builders paid? Do they run accounts with you in the same way as the fishermen?-I think so.
6726. Are they paid by weekly wages?-No; they are paid so much for building a boat.